Trident Health Selected for American College of Cardiology Patient Navigator Program

Friday, January 10, 2014

One of ten hospitals selected nationwide.

The Heart Center at Trident Health has been selected as one of 10 hospitals in the country to participate in the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Patient Navigator Program, the first program of its kind in cardiology designed to support hospitals in providing personalized services to heart disease patients and help them avoid a quick return to the hospital. Today, representatives from the ACC, AstraZeneca and Trident Health officially kicked off the navigator program. Over three hundred hospitals applied while just ten were chosen.

"We are pleased to be just one of ten hospitals in the country selected for this program," said Allison Walters, AVP of Cardiovascular Services. "We are already nationally recognized for how well we take care of our patients. This new endeavor will raise their level of care after leaving the hospital."

Nearly one in five patients hospitalized with heart attack and one in four patients hospitalized with heart failure are readmitted within 30 days of discharge, often for conditions seemingly unrelated to the original diagnosis. Readmissions can be related to issues like stresses within the hospital, fragility at discharge, lack of understanding of discharge instructions and inability to carry out discharge instructions.

"Trident Health, through its interdisciplinary approach has shown great success in improving patient outcomes. We are looking forward to using this approach to equip our patients with key self-care initiatives to improve their transition of care from hospital to home, says Bill Yarbrough, MD, Cardiovascular Medical Director.

The ACC created the Patient Navigator Program to support a team of caregivers at selected hospitals to help patients overcome challenges during their hospital stay and in the weeks following discharge when they are most vulnerable. Hospitals chosen were given funding to establish a program that supports a culture of patient-centered care that can be implemented in other hospitals in the future. AstraZeneca is the founding sponsor of the ACC Patient Navigator Program.

"The ACC Patient Navigator Program will serve as a test for innovative, patient-centered solutions to address issues that impact patient health and patient readmissions," said ACC President John G. Harold, MD, MACC. "Trident Health is a pioneer in a new approach to heart disease treatment and care that puts emphasis on a team approach to meeting patients' ongoing needs and helping patients make a seamless transition from the hospital to the home."

By the end of 2015, the ACC will enroll at least 35 hospitals in the Patient Navigator Program.

The mission of the American College of Cardiology is to transform cardiovascular care and improve heart health. The College is a 43,000-member medical society comprised of physicians, surgeons, nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists and practice managers. The College is a leader in the formulation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The ACC provides professional education, operates national registries to measure and improve quality of care, disseminates cardiovascular research, and bestows credentials upon cardiovascular specialists who meet stringent qualifications. For more information, visit CardioSource.org/ACC.

Trident Health is an HCA hospital system comprised of two acute care hospitals – Trident Medical Center and Summerville Medical Center – as well as Moncks Corner Medical Center. The Joint Commission recently named Trident Health to their list of the nation's top hospitals for quality and safety. In 2012, Trident Health provided almost $40 million in charity and uncompensated care and contributed $27 million in taxes. Accredited by The Joint Commission, Trident Health is committed to providing quality health services along with wellness information and opportunities to the communities it serves. For more information about Trident Health, please visit our website at www.tridenthealthsystem.com or call 843.797.7000.

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